Leaky gut syndrome has become an epidemic in people and animals. About 70-80% of the immune system is housed in the gut, so making sure it’s in tip-top shape is key to good health. Since balance of bacteria in our gut influences the balance of our immune system, an unbalanced gut microbiota with too many opportunistic pathogens, can shift the immune system to an increased inflammatory state. Other Adaptogens that can help reduce inflammation and pain associated with degenerative joint conditions include Asian ginseng, cordyceps, guduchi, reishi, rhodiola root, and schissandra berry. Additional Herbs for Joints Translate all of that into dog-speak and it’s not surprising the same concerns apply to your four-legged buddy. Side effects from over-dosing or extended use can include vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach discomfort. And as above, this is not a recommended course of treatment for pregnant or nursing dogs. It’s also not an appropriate supplement for animals with diabetes or those taking other medications. That’s why running the use of Devil’s Claw past your veterinarian, is an important first step. provides approximately 500 mg of Green Lipped Mussel and this product comes with a convenient little scoop. Feeding fresh is also an option. It may have its roots in fighting and working, but the American Bulldog is a big old softie at heart.

Medicinal actions:Anti-inflammatory, rejuvenative, nutritive tonic, refrigerant, stomachic, hemostatic, and astringent. We know what you’re thinking. Beabull doesn’t sound like a real dog name. It sounds more like a designer energy drink than a designer dog. However, dismissing this pup based purely on it’s ludicrous name would be a huge mistake. Beabulls are little sweethearts that deserve their popularity in the hybrid dog community. You can buy the whole root in a grocery store and grate some into your dog’s food. Or use a turmeric supplement. When buying turmeric, buy a health food store product, not grocery store or cooking turmeric. You can also buy joint care supplements for dogs containing turmeric or curcumin. Devil's claw is the common name for Harpagophytum procumbens and Harpagophytum zeyheri, which belong to the sesame family. Originally from southern Africa and Madagascar, they are now found in the savannahs and on the outskirts of the Kalahari Desert in South Africa and Namibia. For internal use cayenne usually comes in a gel capsule that contains a tiny pinch of the herb powder. Or, you can just add a small pinch of the powdered herb to your dog’s food.Just about every dog will experience joint pain at some point during his life, whether from injuries or chronic conditions like arthritis as he ages. Using the raw ginger root (available at most grocery stores), remove the skin with a paring knife or peeler and finely mince the root. Mix it into your dog’s food, giving¼ tsp for miniature breeds,½tsp for dogs up to 35 lbs and ¾ tsp for larger dogs. The flavor is quite strong so you may want to start with a smaller dose until your dog gets used to it. Dogs with degenerative arthritis experience varying degrees of lameness, stiffness, and joint pain which is more apparent in the morning and after getting up from a nap. Although degenerative arthritis is progressive, it can be slowed down with the right tools. Therapeutic herbs can play a large role in controlling pain and inflammation as well as helping slow down the degeneration. Inflammation is a normal part of the immune response. Think of the last time you scraped your skin, got a bug bite, or had a pesky splinter you just couldn’t get out. Chances are the affected area got swollen and red, even hot or painful. This is inflammation at work, and in cases of acute injury, it’s a good thing! The inflammatory response is basically your immune system gathering defences to the injured tissue, helping to protect and heal the affected area. This is done by increasing blood flow to the area, gathering immune cells, causing pain to stop you from using injured tissue, and protecting the tissue in other ways that we call Acute Inflammation . For humans, Devil’s Claw in any format is considered a safe, short-term solution with few side effects. Over time, however, it can aggravate stomach-related issues including ulcers, gallstones, or other gastrointestinal sensitivities. It’s also recommended that Devil’s Claw not be taken by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

So, there is no surprise here that so many unhealthy dogs are suffering. Please make the connection! Mars Petcare Inc was the leading pet food company in North America in 2018, with over 18 billion U.S dollars in revenue. Nestle Purina Petcare followed in second place with over 13 billion U.S dollars in revenue. Arthritic pain in dogs can be treated with many alternative medications, and therapies other than NSAIDs and replaced with supplements. Here are a few other health reasons to avoid NSAIDs if possible Vitamin E is an important antioxidant that prevents the premature reaction of oxygen in the body and the breakdown of many substances in the body. Essential to the use of oxygen by muscles, vitamin E helps improve circulation and promotes normal clotting and healing. It also prolongs the life of red blood cells. Whole food sources of vitamin E are the safest and most effective choice. Foods rich in vitamin E include Swiss chard, spinach, kale, broccoli and vegetable oils, especially olive oil Torres-Fuentes C, Theeuwes WF, McMullen MK, McMullen AK, Dinan TG, Cryan JF, et al. Devil's Claw to suppress appetite--ghrelin receptor modulation potential of a Harpagophytum procumbens root extract. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 28;9(7):e103118. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0103118. It can help heal joint and bone injuries as well as post-surgical trauma. For joint injuries it combines well with comfrey or nettle, as well as glucosamine and chondroitin supplements.

Gxaba N, Manganyi MC. The Fight against Infection and Pain: Devil's Claw ( Harpagophytum procumbens) a Rich Source of Anti-Inflammatory Activity: 2011-2022. Molecules. 2022 Jun 6;27(11):3637. doi:10.3390/molecules27113637. My favorite group of herbs to work with for animals with degenerative joint disease is known as adaptogens. The reason I love adaptogens with animals especially is that they do a remarkable job of helping the body adapt to stress, they support normal metabolic processes and restore balance. Adaptogens increase the body’s resistance to physical, biological, emotional and environmental stressors and promote normal physiological function. Caution: Don’t use for diabetic, pregnant or lactating dogs. Devil’s Claw may interact with some pharmaceutical drugs (especially cardiac and hyper- or hypo-tensive drugs) so consult your vet if your dog’s taking any other medications. Ginger ( Zhinger officinalis)